A recent New York Times article portrayed conservative-led education reform as a political performance — more concerned with fighting “woke” ideology than improving student outcomes. The implication is familiar: that Republican efforts in education are all about culture wars, not classrooms. But this telling misses the bigger picture. Beneath the headlines, some of the most meaningful — and effective — education reforms in America today are being driven by conservative leadership. Just look at Mississippi and Louisiana.
These two deep-red states are not exactly known for boasting about education excellence. In fact, for decades, they have struggled near the bottom of the national rankings. But over the last several years, they’ve become two of the most closely watched examples of what’s possible when policymakers take education seriously — and when they are willing to challenge stale systems and tired assumptions.
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